What do you guys prefer, more foods over protein shakes (or vice versa)
Whole foods are superior in almost every way. The only advantage of shakes is their convenience. I’m always amazed when people employ shakes when they have the time to prepare real food. In fact, there seems to be evidence to suggest that large-scale replacement of whole food with liquid can inhibit LBM gains. Read more about it in last week’s ‘Ask the Guru’ column at CP’s site.
I have easy access to all sorts of protein shakes and protein bars all day at my work, so I tend to consume a lot of protein that way. Although I think that solid food sources of protein are probably the way to go, so I never neglect to eat anything less than four whole food meals daily.
i eat 8 times a day, and i will have 2 minimum, 3 maximum MRPs a day. (i count my postworkout shake as a meal and MRP.) i will never have 2 MRPs in a row. here is an example:
1)meal 2)meal 3)pwkt 4)meal 5)meal/mrp 6)meal 7)mrp 8)meal
Ike: I agree with the convienence, but they also allow one to ingest extra protein without having to ingest as many calories and fat as a comparable meat source.
Yes…the preference is whole food…but MRP’s and/or protein shakes are a useful tool, however.
Whole food should always be the foundation of your diet. I tend to agree with JC#10 that 2-3 MRPs out of 8 meals would be the max that I use. The only “always” MRPS are Surge and then slower digesting caseinate before bed (with fish oil softgels). Sometimes, I’ll have a smaller low carb MRP 1-1.5 hrs. before my training session.
Powders play an important role, but food is your base. For example, it would be tough to simulate the effects of Surge in whole food form. In that case, Surge is superior to “real” food. Actually, it is food, just a precise concentrated form.
It’s the FOOD, babee -the FOOD. 
I’ll choose a steak ANYDAY over a protein shake. For convenience sake, sure, shakes and MRPs’ rule. But what we do is cook up a bunch of food and get 'em ready for the next few days. Cuz, I’d rather eat my food than slurp it.
I prefer powders as protein sources over real food, but real food has a lot of useful shit that doesn’t come in powders and also has some that we don’t even know about yet. I use Surge and an MRP when I have only 2 minutes to eat (once a day).
I consider protein powder and MRP’s food. Neither is better-some may be better at different times. I believe if two people with identical genetics did everything exactly the same for 1 year exept: one ate 90% of his protein from whole food and the other ate 90% of his protein from high quality supplements there would not be a noticiple difference at all. I like whole food because I like to eat. The fact is most of my protein comes from blends I have made by the protein factory and Biotest Grow because compaired to lean meat it saves me a fortune!
HMMMMM juicy steak, or MRP. Which would you choose? MRPs are a necessary evil, and if I had the time, I would not use them, except for maybe a post workout drink.
Protein shakes are great for after workouts and when you are busy. Other than those times, real food should be comprise the majority of your meals.
while on the subject, when you do have an MRP, try to make it in liquid form. obviously there are times when a bar is the only thing available, places like the movie theatre and a banquet (or something) where you cant exactly bring a bottle filled with powder. i always keep a box of bar’s handy, but 9 times out of 10 i go for the shake.
Got to be food, tastes better, ALOT more variety. I guess it helps when you enjoy cooking. MRPs have their place especially after workouts but food is the foundation and MRPs are just “supplements” to the foundation.
Gotta be food. MRP’s are for filling in the gaps, or emergencies, only in my book. Good tasting food is one of life’s great pleasures, and you can still eat delicious things and stay healthy. For me and for a lot of people I’ve known, when you start replacing more than half your meals with shakes (which even if they taste good, get incredibly booring), the bodybuilding lifestyle becomes a chore rather than a joy, and often marks the point when people will start having little dietary rebounds into the world of pizza and chips.
Why can’t more women be like Patricia? I’d take a steak over an MRP any day, too. In fact, I just ate a steak in her honor:)
While dieting, I have found that having 4 shakes and 2 whole food meals a day to be more beneficial than eating 4 whole food meals and 2 shakes. This is most likely do to my body being able to process these proteins more effeciently. When consuming mostly whole food on a severe diet, my losses are ALWAYS slower. I’d say try it for yourself and see what you do better with.
My job does not permit me to eat frequently and I work so many hours I do not have much time to cook. I usually eat 2-3 times per day and I drink 4 -6 mrp’s. I have never looked better or been stronger than I am now.
Your body doesn’t know the difference between leucine from an MRP or a steak. However, you are likely missing out on other nutrients that may be undiscovered or more bioavailable. I get about 100g of protein from meat and another 150g from a milk protein isolate powder.